HB2431 would amend Arizona revised statutes by adding a section relating to purchasing firearms. The text of the bill states the following:

“To maintain proficiency of arms, a person who is eligible for service in the Arizona state guard pursuant to section 26‑121 may privately purchase, in accordance with all other laws, any particularly suited firearm or equipment. The sale of a particularly suited firearm or equipment for the purpose of maintaining proficiency of arms is lawful within this state. A person who possesses a particularly suited firearm or equipment pursuant to this subsection shall lawfully keep and maintain the firearm or equipment and may lawfully use or transport the firearm or equipment in this state.”

“E. For the purposes of this section, “particularly suited firearm or equipment” includes:
1. Any semiautomatic handgun that is lawfully possessed by a person who is at least twenty-one years of age, including a semiautomatic handgun with standard military or law enforcement magazine capacities.
2. Any semiautomatic shotgun or pump shotgun, in all barrel lengths except as prohibited by title 13, chapter 31, including a semiautomatic shotgun or pump shotgun with standard military or law enforcement magazine capacities.
3. Any semiautomatic rifle, in all barrel lengths except as prohibited by title 13, chapter 31, including a semiautomatic rifle with standard military or law enforcement magazine capacities and configured with varieties of flash‑hiding devices, pistol grips, vertical foregrips, detachable magazines, bayonet lugs, bayonets, collapsible or folding stocks, carrying slings, aiming systems, lights and any other firearm mounted equipment in use by the armed forces of the United States or any law enforcement agency in this state.
4. Any full-capacity magazine, ammunition‑feeding device or caliber of ammunition that is compatible with the items set forth in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of this subsection, including sufficient quantities of ammunition necessary to maintain a high degree of proficiency of arms and to maintain a ready supply of ammunition in the event the state guard is established.
5. Any other small arms weapons system, ammunition or equipment that is in use by the armed forces of the United States or any law enforcement agency in this state.”

It’s important to note, that previously Arizona passed a “Firearms Freedom Act” which would deny the federal government to claim any firearms or equipment that’s produced within the state as commerce. With the federal government being unable to claim Arizona made guns as commerce and their inability to regulate the purchase of firearms or equipment, this could potentially attract people to move to the state and open businesses. When I spoke with Carl Seel, he stated that “this would be a great opportunity for economic growth in our state.” Also, “businesses wouldn’t have the fear of the federal government stepping in where they shouldn’t be involved.”

LEGISLATION AND TRACKING

If you would like to see model legislation to introduce in your state to preserve the 2nd amendment, please see The Tenth Amendment Center’s Model Legislation: 2nd Amendment Preservation Act

Track the status of 2nd amendment preservation legislation in states around the country HERE

ACTION ITEMS

If you live in Arizona, contact your state legislator. Let him or her know your concern for the firearms freedom act and that you expect support for this legislation. Click here for contact information.

If you live outside of Arizona, still contact your state legislator. Inform him or her that you hope similar legislation will be introduced in your state.

Adam Henriksen [send him email] is the state chapter coordinator for the Arizona Tenth Amendment Center. Originally from Georgia, Adam has lived in Arizona for 15 years and has been with the Tenth Amendment Center since 2012.

Adam Henriksen [send him email] is the state chapter coordinator for the Arizona Tenth Amendment Center. Originally from Georgia, Adam has lived in Arizona for 15 years and has been with the Tenth Amendment Center since 2012.